How To Fight Age Discrimination

What’s more important enthusiasm or experience? When employers think about hiring older workers versus younger ones, it can come down to this very question. And err…pay. But ageism in the workplace isn't really so simple.

It's about more than a jazzed up attitude and money.

The bottom line is it stinks. Here are some reasons to explain it–based on lots of interviews I've conducted on both sides of the fence, and, of course, personal experience. Let me know if you have other ones I should add to my list.

In my opinion, the age question often comes down to concerns that you won’t stay in good health, or have the energy and desire to do the job the way a younger worker might.

There’s the underlying feeling that you are resistant to change and not up to speed with technology.

Then too, there’s the perception that you're not in it for the long haul. Employers see your proverbial expiration date.

They might believe that you don't want to work for someone younger than you are.

If you're accepting a job at a lower salary, or not as lofty a position as you held in your last position, a hiring manager might conclude you will jump ship if a better offer comes your way. (Be honest, you might.)

Then too, there's the flap about tension between older and younger workers, as if we are in mano a mano competition with one another for a foothold in the workplace. We blame younger workers for getting the job because they're clearly willing to work for less, and they blame us for hogging all the jobs since we refuse to retire quietly into the night.

I say pshaw.

I find that younger workers learn from us and visa versa. And we basically enjoy working together. I do. Even connecting and developing friendships with younger reporters at conferences like the recent GSA Annual Scientific Meeting re-charges me. (Thanks, Hanah Cho of the Dallas Morning News.)

They lend a hand with technology, (when they’re not texting their friends), and pump up a workplace with enthusiasm. We 50-plusers give back with our knowledge of how to get things done with tried and true methods and smarts about office politics, too.

There’s a recent study on this issue of tension between younger and older workers that I find heartening.

Despite a demographic shift that is making the nation’s workforce older, a national survey commissioned by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) found that Baby Boomers and their Gen X and Millennial counterparts – value each other in the workplace to a surprisingly high degree.

The survey of almost 2,000 rank-and-file employees and business decision-makers reveals a remarkable consensus among older and younger workers. “The way we tend to discuss generational difference in the workplace focuses on just that – our differences – and the issues they present for employers,” Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA says. “This survey surprised us showing that a majority of employees, regardless of age or station, believes that each generation is valuable in its own right."

Skip the drama. Experience rules.

I love this finding. Both workers and their managers agree that no amount of enthusiasm can replace experience in the workplace. Even younger employees (62 percent), who arguably can contribute enthusiasm more readily than experience, agree with the statement. Middle-aged (72 percent) and older employees (72 percent) are, perhaps understandably, in even greater agreement.

That brings me to my advice to you. If you're looking for a job right now and worried that your age is holding you back, here are my ten top tips.

1. Be on top of your game. Make sure you have done everything you can to keep up with technology and changes in your field. If you don’t have core technical skills, check out your local libraries, community colleges, and other venues where training is offered. Add some classes to boost your expertise if need be, especially if you are eyeing a new arena.

2. Look your best. Be physically fit and look and dress with an eye toward a vibrant, youthful appearance. Interviewers will judge a book by its cover, even if it is subliminal.

3. Prepare for age-related questions. Stress that you have the ability to work well with co-workers of any age. You look forward to learning from younger workers and being a mentor to them as well.

4. Ask for help. In this era of online resumes, it’s all about who you know that can get you in the chair for a face-to-face meeting. When businesses are looking for candidates, they rely on employee referrals more than job boards or any other source, according to a report from CareerXRoads, a recruiting industry consulting firm.

5. Market your age as a plus. Workers 50+ tend to be self-starters, know how to get the job done, and don’t need as much handholding as those with less experience. A great benefit to being older is that you have a good deal of knowledge and leadership ability.

6. Be a self-starter. Use your skills to create your own business at home or take on contract work. Be open to consulting or short-term projects. You might find that creating multiple income streams is just what you are looking for and gives you the income, variety of work, and flexible control of your time that makes sense after decades of reporting into an office. (More: Keep reading on next page....)